Collapsible crate.



P. CplC'KES. l cqLLA-Psli CRATE. APPLICATION FILED IUNE l 1915.

Patented June 19, 19517;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Qi/w64.

PETER C. ICKES, OF CHANUTE, KANSAS, .AS

SIGNOR To ELMER E. GARARD, or cnn-WTE,

SAS.

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jane 19, 191 "3.

Application filed J une 1, 1915. Serial No. 31,507.

T 0 all Iwhom it may concern:

Be it known that l. Perrin C. CKES, a citizen of the United States. residing at (lhanute. in the county ot' Neos-.ho and State ot' Kansas. have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Collapsible rates, oif'wihich the. following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in collapsible crates.

The object oi my invention is to provide a collapsible crate which may-be extended or collapsed so as to form, eli'ect, two crates or boxes of diiferent capacity.

Mv invention is particularly adapted in its extended form for thc shipment of eggs. and in its collapsed condition it forms a box ot' sutlicient capacity to contain the fillers in which the eggs are shipped.

A further object of my invention is to provide a crate ot novel construction. which is cheap to manufacture. is strong and dura-v ble and which may he easily andsecurely?v fastened in the expanded or collapsed lcondition.

The novel features of `my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings. which illustrate the preferred embodiment ot my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved crate. showu partly collapsed. the partition and cover being removed.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the partition.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view ot' the cover.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view Vof the crate shown collapsed and in locked condition ready for shipment.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the crate in the locked expanded position.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional-view on the linel G-t of Fig. 5. the cover being removed.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view on the line if-7 of Fig. Fig. S is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of a portion of one of the flanges of the bottom member.

. Similar reference characters designate similar parts in 'the different views.

i designates a bottom member provided with upwardly extending edge flanges 2. to which are respectively hinged two pairs of side members 2 and l.' which are adapted to be swung from the upright position `shown in Fig. 5 to the collapsed position shown in Fig. 4.-

For locking the side members together in the upright position. each side member '-1 is provided at opposite side edges with tubulaiportions 5 which are adapted to respectively be disposed between and in vertical alinement with tubular portions 6, two ot'which are provided spaced apart from each other and in longitudinal alinement with ea oh other` at each side edge of eac-h side member 3 adjacent to the free edge thereof. v

When the side members 3 and -L are fin the upright position, shown in Figs. 5, (i and 7. securing devices.l such as nails or pins T may be respectively inserted through the alined tubular portions 5 and 6 so as to releasably lock the side members 3 tothe side members i. llpon withdrawing the pins or nails T from the tubular portions 5 and 6, the side members 3 and 4 may be swung to the collapsed position npon the bottom member l. as shown in Fig. 4.-.

A cover 8, shown inverted 'in Fig.l 3. is provided with downwardly extending lianges 9 which are adapted -to embrace respectively the members 3 and 4. when thelatter are in thel upright position shownfin y Figs. 5 and T.- When the cover S is thnsdisposed. it will be over the nails or pins, l and will prevent their accidental withdrawal trom the tubular portions 5 and G.

ln order that the cover 8 may bel releasa. i bly secured to the side members 3 and '-L'two oppositely disposed flanges 9 of the cover are providedeach with a pair of openings 10. which are adapted to respectively regis ter with openings 11. a Apair of which is provided in each of the side members L adjacent to the upper edge thereof. 'hen the cover' is mounted on the side members nd 4f. asshown in Figs. a and 7, pieces o. 'e 1"'2 may be looped through the pair ings l0 and 1l,` which are in register with each other and the ends of the wires twisted together as shown in Fig.

Upon removing the wires l2, the cover 8 may be removed, following which the pins or nails '7 may loe withdrawn andthe sides 3 and 4 swung t-o the. collapsedv position shown in Fig. 4L, after which the cover 8 may be slipped over the flanges 2 of the bottom member l', the parts so disposed forming a shallow box which is adapted to contain egg fillers or other articles or material. not shown.

For locking the cover S to the bottom member 1 opposite iianges 2 of the latter eli- , site longitudinal edges of which are provided fianges 2 with lateral flanges 15 adapted to slide into suitable vertical guides provided in the of the bottom member 1 and on the inner sides respectivelyv of the side members' 3.. The guides in the bottom member may be formed as follows :--In each of the fianges Q to which a member 3 is hinged,

there is mnched inwardl7 a riOht-anffled C C l tongue 16, see F ig. 8,A which is adapted to beslidably .engaged by the adjacent fiange 15 of the partition '11. Below 'and a little at one side of the tongueI 1G there is punched inwardljvv trom the fiange 2, a straight tongue 17, which' is adapted to slidably engage the side of: the partition 4 opposite the said flange 1o'. f

`Each of the side members 3 adjacent to its'upper edge is provided with an inwardly extending right-angled tongue 18, similar vto 'thetongue 16, land below and at one side of the tongue 18 is an inwardly extending 4straight tongue 19, similar to the tongue 17.

Then the side members 3 are in the upright position, shown in Figs. 5 and G, the tongues 18 and 19 will be respectively in vertical alinement with the tongues 16 and 17, so that the fianges yof the partition C14: may be slid downwardly into locked engagement with the tongues 18 and 1G, the opposite side of the partition. 14 being slidably engaged with the tongue 17 and 19.

The partition 1&1-, in addition toits. function ot' dividing the crate into two compartments. also serves as va brace., 2 lIdlein'g eX- tended into the box-shaped bottom member 1, it is securehv held thereby, and thus holds the side members 3 against any tendency to swing in either direction from the upright position. 1;.;l`

I do not limit my invention to the structure shown and described, as modifications, within the scopeof the appendedmlaim, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

A collapsible crate comprising ahbottom member having two end flanges provided each with two holesytherethroughclosely adjacent to each other, side -members hinged to said bottom member so as torbe. swung from an upright to a collapsed position', two opposite side members being hinged respectively to said fianges and lprovided each with two holes therethrough,-releasable means for locking the side members in the upright position,` and a 'cover pro'- vided with two end fianges adapted to embrace the flanges of they bottom memberfand the two adjacent side members, each 1end fiange of the cover having'twoholes'theref through adapted to register respectivelywith the holes in the adjacent side member when the latter is in the upright position,

and adapted to register respectively with the holes in the adjacent end flange'lof the bottom member when the latter is embraced bv the cover, whereb)v a short flexible securing device may be inserted througheach set of holes which are in register with' each other for securing the cover tothe side members or to the bottom member.`

In testimony whereof' I have signed my name to this specification.

PETER o. iones.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

l" v Washington, 1D. C. 

